01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 27, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- Faced with at least the possibility of losing outfielder Trot Nixon for the remainder of the season, the Red Sox are mulling replacements for right field -- and finding few attractive options.

Nixon was placed on the DL Sunday with a recurrence of the left quadriceps problem first suffered earlier this spring. Nixon is experiencing some tightness in the quad, along with some fluid buildup, which could lead to some calcification.

He will return to Boston Thursday and have another MRI Friday morning, which could provide more answers. He may need to rest for "several weeks," he said yesterday, or risk a rupture of the muscle that would sideline him until the middle of next season.

"I'm waiting to see what I can do as far as rehab after the MRI is done," Nixon said yesterday.

One possibility would be Colorado's Larry Walker, whom the Rockies are shopping to contenders. The two teams spoke earlier this month about a deal for Walker and the Rockies were willing to eat some of the outfielder's money -- but not enough to interest the Sox.

Walker earns $12.5 million this year and next year, with a $1-million buyout for 2006. The Sox may be worried that committing themselves to that much money next season could hamper their ability to sign free agents this winter -- their own as well as others.

Carlos Beltran, whom the Sox attempted to obtain from Kansas City last month, is not going to be dealt again by the Houston Astros, according to several major league sources.

In the meantime, Gabe Kapler will see the majority of playing time in right.

"I guess I feel like whoever we have are the guys that are going to play," said manager Terry Francona, "rather than [complaining] and moaning about players we need to get. It's too easy to start asking for stuff; we'll just play with what we have. Gabe plays with energy, he plays the outfield well and runs the bases well."

Lately, he's also hit. Before last night, Kapler had hit in 13 of his previous 14 starts at a .353 clip (18-for-51) with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored.

He continued that streak at the plate last night with two singles, a double and three runs scored.

Varitek back in action

Jason Varitek returned to the lineup one day after sitting out a game with a sore right hand, stemming from the on-field fracas with the Yankees.

Varitek, who had been moved up to second in the batting order Friday, returned to seventh in the lineup last night. He contributed a two-run single in the third inning, his first at-bat of the night before adding a walk and two groundouts.

He'll get another day of rest tonight as Doug Mirabelli takes his customary spot as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield 's batterymate.

No word on suspensions

The Sox have heard nothing further from MLB on possible suspensions stemming from Saturday's brawl with the Yankees, but expect to be in contact with Bob Watson, vice president of on-field operations, in the next day or so.

As of late yesterday afternoon, David Ortiz had still not heard when the hearing on his five-game suspension might be.

John McHale Jr. "I really don't know if I can say too much," he said. "But I think it will be dealt with quite shortly."

Millar honored

Kevin Millar was named co-winner of the American League Player of the Week honor, going .583 (14-for-24) with 6 homers and 11 RBI while compiling a .615 on-base percentage and slugging 1.333.

He shared the honor with the Orioles' Miguel Tejada .

"That's awesome," said Millar when told of the news. "I think I was once [before] with Florida. It's a big honor."

Millar traces his turnaround to two weeks ago when he watched Seattle catcher Miguel Olivo and decided to change his stance.

"I had to make an adjustment," he said. "For two months, I've been tinkering back and forth. I opened my stance up, and it's given me a chance to clear myself. I feel a lot better. I had to do something, because what I was doing before wasn't working. Watching [Olivo] hit, it looked like he was on a lot of pitches. I went to the cages, it felt good, and that night I had three hits. I said, 'I like this stance.'

"The bottom line is, I wasn't going to hit two home runs and drive in 10 runs all year, as much as it seemed like it for a while. This is a good time to get hot for this team."

A scary moment

A scary moment occurred in the eighth when a line drive off the bat of Gabe Kapler struck Baltimore relief pitcher Todd Williams in the back of the head.

The ball caromed to third baseman Melvin Mora , who threw Kapler out at first.

"It sounded awful," said Francona.

Williams never lost consciousness, and in fact sat up to watch the completion of the play before lying prone in front of the mound. The Orioles and their trainer rushed to attend to Williams, who soon sat up, then stood up and walked off under his own power.

He didn't return for the ninth, but the O's later sent word to the Boston clubhouse that Williams was "fine."

"That was scary for me," said Kapler. "It made my heart drop a bit. I had flashes of Bryce Florie [the Red Sox pitcher who was struck in the face at Fenway in September 2000 in a game against the Yankees]." Around the bases Scott Williamson will throw a side session today, make another rehab appearance Thursday and likely be activated Friday or Saturday in Minnesota. . . . The Sox seem destined to set a new club record for most pitchers used in a season. When Terry Adams made his debut Sunday night, he became the 24th pitcher to pitch for the Sox this season. The club record of 26 was set in 1995 and matched last year. . . . Pedro Martinez made his 189th start as a member of the Red Sox, moving into a tie for 12th place on the club's all-time list with Lefty Grove . . . . The current four-city road trip will cover 4,251 air miles. . . . Manny Ramirez , who had just entered the game with just three hits in his previous 25 at-bats, bounced back with a four-hit night. . . .Martinez improved to 6-2 with a 1.74 E.R.A. in 11 games at Camden Yards.